pendents made vigorous assaults; Correa and Lobato in the afternoon succeeded in possessing themselves of two parapets, where they waited some time, under the heavy fire of the royalists from the third line of defences, for reënforcerments under Villagran that would enable them to advance farther. But as none came, and night was approaching, they retreated in good order. During the night silence reigned in the independents' camps. But Casasola, apprehending it might be a ruse to draw him out, kept a watchful eye within his intrenchment. The next morning no enemy was in sight; and news soon was brought to the town that Rayon and his army were fairly on the way to Huichapan.[1] On arriving at this place in advance of his division, Rayon seriously reprimanded Villagran for his violation of orders. The latter made no reply, but resolved to avenge forthwith what he deemed an insult from one whose authority he held in contempt. He ordered the drawbridges to be raised, and called his men to arms to seize the president and his escort before his troops arrived. But Rayon, mistrusting the movements around him, visited the barracks at once and managed to have his superior authority recognized and his orders obeyed. Villagran seeing his designs frustrated fled with twenty of his accomplices. The failure to capture Ixmiquilpan and Villagran's mutinous course filled the president with grief, and he returned to Tlalpujahua.
The Chito did not abandon his purpose of wreaking vengeance on Rayon and his friends. He relent-
- ↑ Bustamante expressed the belief that Rayon's retreat was caused by the receipt of a letter summoning him to a conference with envoys from Venegas at the Tultenango hacienda. Cuad. Hist., ii. 235-9. He is evidently mistaken. Correa's report attributed their ill success to Villagran's failure to cooperate, and the precipitate retreat of his men, which is also alluded to by Rayon's secretary. Rayon certainly went to Huichapan, which carried him away from Tultenango. Alaman, Hist. Méj., iii. 345-8; Diario de Operac., in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 298, 622-3. Whatever the cause of the retreat, it was fortunate for Casasola, who had lost about 100 men of the garrison.
firma entera. Casasola.' This answer and Rayon's demand appear in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col Doc., iv. 633; Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 1131-2.
